Stereoscopic Optical Systems has developed a new 3D camera assembly for use in medical surgery, professional film-making, TV production and home camcorders.
The system has already been used successfully with a camcorder to produce home movies that were shown on a 3D screen within minutes.
Instead of using two electronically- or mechanically-linked cameras and flickering two sets of images, the company says its new JC3D system shows images to both eyes at the same time by incorporating two views from adjacent lenses that are manipulated into a single camera by passive optics.
Conventional 3D imaging often involves co-ordinated twin camera arrangements, twin projectors, or very complex methods of displaying stereoscopic images to each eye in turn, or showing left and right eye images alternately to the same camera.
In the consumer sector, health concerns have been raised by industry leaders in stereoscopic entertainment over the way 3D TV and films are viewed because of their flicker effect.
People with epilepsy, pregnant women, the elderly, children and those suffering from serious medical conditions are among a wide range of people said to be at risk.
Potential side effects have been highlighted such as confusion, nausea, convulsions, altered vision, light-headedness, dizziness, and involuntary movements such as eye or muscle twitching and cramps.
Russell Wilson, managing director of Stereoscopic Optical Systems Ltd, says “Our passive optical arrangement produces continuous images in a simpler way – which will avoid potential health damaging effects, improve image quality, and bring costs down for equipment manufacturers.”
Other applications for the camera system include inspection in the aviation, nuclear, industrial, undersea exploration and oil and gas sectors.
The system is the result of 15 years of research and development by a team led by inventor John Christian, and Stereoscopic Optical Systems now hopes to stimulate collaborative or joint-venture interest.
Photography by Phil Dowding. www.stereoscopic3dimages.com
